Day 6 of Touring the Holy Land

Waking up on a Kibbutz by the Dead Sea in Israel with the cows and roosters singing, the sun rising over the Moabite mountain range just beyond the Dead Sea, was so incredible! I woke up at 5 and couldn't go back to sleep. So I took my camera and went outside to walk with God through the lush garden paths on the grounds. My heart was full of emotion, hardly believing I was where I was. Why God chose me to experience this, I do not know but I am extremely grateful!

I knew it would be a fabulous day today. This morning was going to start with driving over to the

Jordan River, the more likely site of where Jesus was baptized and close to where the Israelites would have crossed over the Jordan towards Jericho. Kerri wanted to get baptized here today. She shared her testimony while we stood with our feet in the water. It was such an honor to baptize her today.

We have been in Bible study together for a number of years so this was very memorable for us both. What a super way to honor the Shabbat! It was the best Sunday morning on a Saturday service EVER! :) And no, it didn't matter to either of us that the water was murky. :) After we all prayed together and sang Praise God from whom all blessings flow. God is so good!!

After the baptism we drove to the Ahava Factory and then over to take a float in the Dead Sea to all celebrate with Kerri. What fun putting mud all over our bodies, of course the black of it reminded me of the sin that continually threatens to envelope us daily. We all walked into the Dead Sea and washed off the mud and came out cleansed.

Such a great analogy of what Christ did for us on the cross, and when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, He washes us clean and gives us eternal life. The baptism this morning was a great rededication of that. Thank you Kerri for letting us experience this in the Holy Land with you.

Next came the hike up Massada....well for Kerri and Danielle. The rest of us took the cable car up. At the entrance, a man stopped Kerri and I and said "weren't you the ones in the Jordan river this morning? wow were you ever brave. and you're not sick at all?" It made us smile and I thanked him for his encouragement. Yes the water had been murky but it definitely didn't kill us. :) But back to Masada, The mass suicide that happened up on that mountain is really quite disturbing but we were thankful to hear of the mother with small children who chose to hide and live, rather than take their life.

It made me think of the verse, "choose life and not death." Thank you God for courageous people who live to tell their story.

The 2 hour drive to Eilat was quick. We were happy to settle into our hotel for a couple of days.

Petra will happen on the next day.....another great adventure!
Thank you God for another fantastic day today!!

Thanks for your patience and prayers. It means so much to us all knowing that you are following along with us and praying for us. God bless each one of you!